10/9 - No School
10/12 - School Committee
10/16-10/20 - Term 1 Family Outreach Week
10/17 - SEPAC - 7 p.m.
10/25-10/26 - Conference Afternoons (info coming)
10/27 - Blake Picture Retakes Day
10/30 - Blake Site Council Mtg - 3:30 p.m.
10/31 - ½ Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
Blake’s Question of the Week
To encourage dialogue and reflection about teams, contributions, and learning, our question for the week is: What needs to be ‘in place’ for you to contribute and find success on a team? (team/group in the classroom/school, sports team, team at work, etc.) Conditions for Teams (Week of 10/1/23) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Term 1 Family Outreach Period - 10/16-10/20
The week of 10/16-10/20 is the Term 1 Family Outreach week for Blake Middle School. During this week, teachers will send an email to families to notify them if their student is consistently not meeting the standard in an area OR if they do not have sufficient data to assess their student at that point in the term due to absence or missing work. If students are meeting the standards, families will not receive an email from teachers. Please know that you may reach out to teachers or your child's counselor if you have questions or concerns about their progress.
Blake’s Information Nights
For your reference and information, here are the links from our Information Nights for parents and caregivers…
Slide Decks
Blake Grade 6 Info Night Slides for Families - Fall, 2023
Blake Grade 7 Info Night Slides for Families - Fall, 2023
Blake Grade 8 Info Night Slides for Families - Fall, 2023
Videos within Slide Deck
The Difference of Belonging and Fitting In
(0:40)
Garreth Heidt - Questions to Ask
Why are things the way they are?
How can we make them better?
(2:29)
Medfield Cares About Prevention Youth Action Club Info Video
MCAP Youth Action Club Video for Families
(2:04)
Articles/Shares within Slide Deck
Kids' Declining Mental Health Is the 'Crisis of Our Time,' Surgeon General Says
by Caitlyn Peetz in Education Week
“Child psychologist: The No. 1 skill that sets mentally strong kids apart from ‘those who give up’—and how parents can teach it.”
by Michele Borba in CNBC News
Stop Telling Students, ‘You Belong!’
by Greg Walton in Education Week
The Parent of a Teen-Ager Is an Emotional-Garbage Collector
by Jessica Winter in The New Yorker
The Homework Apocalypse
by Ethan Mollick
Why we need to change schools (right now).
by Chris McNutt in Medium
Battling Toxic Achievement Culture with Jennifer Wallace from The Puberty Podcast
What We Lose When We Push Our Kids to ‘Achieve’
by Adam Gopnik in The New York Times
5 ways parents can shore up a middle schooler’s self-image
by Phillis Fagell in CNN Health
Does Anyone Win When Colleges Compete?
by Andrew Bauld in Harvard Ed. Magazine
Pride Alliance
At Pride Alliance, we strive to create a safe space for people in the community, those who want to learn more about the LGBTQIA+ community, and also those who wish to learn how to become a better ally. Everyone is welcome to join, regardless of identity. Meetings for Pride Alliance will take place on Mondays from 2:15-2:45 in room #309. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jen Dondero ([email protected]) and Kristin Manning ([email protected]).
Blake’s Reading Challenge
CHECK IT OUT! All of Blake is participating in a reading challenge sponsored by the Massachusetts Center for the Book. October's theme is a book published in the year you were born. Students can fill out the Google form linked on the Blake library website to show their participation.
Fall Intramurals
Fall Intramural Offerings have begun. If you have any questions or ideas, please contact Matt Marenghi ([email protected]).
Inktober is Here!!!
Every October, artists all over the world take on the INkTOBER drawing challenge by doing one drawing a day the entire month. ANYONE CAN DO INKTOBER, JUST PICK UP A PEN AND START DRAWING!!!
Blake is always looking for substitute teacher applicants. Applicants need not have teaching licensure but should be energetic, flexible and enjoy working with children. For more information or to apply, please visit Medfield Public Schools - Employment Opportunities and look under ‘Substitute Teaching’. Please contact Kelly Campbell ([email protected]) with any questions.
Teaching Assistant Opportunities at Blake
We currently have several teaching assistant position openings at Blake for the 2023-2024 school year. These are important roles for our students and we value their presence on our staff. If you are interested in applying or know of any potential candidates, please reach out to me ([email protected]) and/or Kelly([email protected]). Thanks in advance!
Theme of Belonging for 2023-2024
Our theme for this school year at Blake is one of Belonging. We believe that this theme will extend the work we have done over the last eleven years with our themes of Community, Perseverance, Creativity, Acceptance, Collaboration, Empathy, Diversity, Happiness, Courage, Curiosity, Imagination, and Discovery. As ideas and thoughts come to mind, do not hesitate to email me ([email protected]) or Kelly ([email protected]) - all ideas and thoughts are welcome!
Over the last few years the Blake Site Council has read several books and we will continue this practice during the 2023-2024 school year. Stay tuned for more information and we hope you can join in these discussions - all caregivers are invited and welcome!
Notification for Absences/Dismissals
If a student will be absent, tardy or dismissed early from school, please e-mail [email protected]. Additionally, for absences and tardies, you can call Blake's absence line at (508) 242-8501. For e-mails about dismissals, please include the following information:
- Date
- Time of dismissal
- Student name
- Reason for dismissal
- Person picking up
Youth Action Club
Meets @ Blake, weekly on Tuesdays from 2:15-3:00pm, start date TBD
Does your child want to make a difference in their community? The Medfield Youth Action Club (YAC!) is their chance to get involved! Facilitated by Medfield Outreach Prevention Coordinators, YAC! is designed to empower middle school youth to take action in ways that support the health and wellness of the entire community. Throughout weekly club meetings, YAC! youth will identify a public health-related topic that is important to them and design an initiative to take positive action related to that topic. They will learn about basic public health concepts and develop skills related to decision-making, leadership, effective communication, and community involvement. YAC! provides Blake students with an opportunity to gain real-world experience using their voice to make a positive impact. Students will be able to sign-up in the coming weeks.
Message from SEPAC
Medfield Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC). SEPAC is run by a group of parent & caregiver volunteers who work for the understanding of, respect for, and support of all children with special needs in the community. SEPAC has a lot of exciting things planned for this school year. Mark your calendars to join us at our upcoming meetings/ events:
Tuesday, October 17th at 7pm at the Blake Middle School Library: Meet the Medfield Educational Team Leaders (ETL) and the new Assistant Director of Student Services, Mark Harrison
Tuesday, November 14th at 7pm at the Blake Middle School Library: Basic Rights Workshop
Our meetings are open to all who wish to attend. A high school student has volunteered to child-watch during the meetings. A zoom link can be provided upon request. Please RSVP https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSev0ywtTgQ5M5ZadWSb7RY8VxiV9ocbJszILYex2g7Lck4iUw/viewform?usp=sf_link or get in touch with us at [email protected] Also, check out our website, Facebook and Instagram social media pages.
Reminder that the PTO serves to support Blake teachers through financial grants, hands-on support, and ongoing teacher appreciation efforts on behalf of all parents. If you have not already, please consider donating $50 for the year (or whatever amount feels appropriate) through Venmo @MedfieldTownwide-PTO or a check made out to Blake PTO. If you are interested in volunteering once or twice a month during the school day to help teachers with photocopying or bulletin boards, please email [email protected]
Message from Medfield Music Association
Welcome back to school from the Medfield Music Association!
For over 50 years, the MMA has supported K-12 music education in the Medfield Public Schools. We are a parent volunteer organization that relies on support from our music families and donors in the community.
Interested in donating? Your donation can help support meaningful initiatives to excite and motivate our students to grow through music. Becoming a patron by October 31st allows us to grant music department initiatives in the current year. All donations are tax deductible.
Can you spare some time? The MMA relies on many helping hands, especially for our various events and activities which provide about half of our funding each year. We appreciate any amount of time you can give – big or small! To learn more about the MMA, please visit our website at:
medfield music association
Or send us an email at:
[email protected]
Thank you in advance for your support!
"Making Desired Futures Real: Tools and Techniques That Move Beyond Futures Thinking" With Greg Curtis
Monday, 10/9 at 4 p.m.
Futures Thinking, in many forms, has grown in popularity. That’s a good thing, but many schools and leaders struggle to create meaningful goals and actions out of this generative process. The goal is not to create a slick “Map of the Future” as a product, but as a step towards articulating new goals and the bold shifts needed to achieve these.
In this session, author and consultant Greg Curtis will facilitate an investigation into processes and strategies to move beyond futures insights and foresights and towards actions intentionally designed to meet new learning goals for the future.
If you're interested in building your capacity to navigate the future, you won't want to miss this session. Register now!
About Greg:
Greg has been heavily invested in deep, systems-focused school improvement efforts for his entire career. With over 30 years of experience working from early years through high school programs, he has led progressive strategic processes involving curriculum initiatives, 21st century learning, technology infusion, assessment updates and change management. His work with think tanks and innovative collaborative organizations in Europe, Australia and Asia reflects his commitment to upgrading school culture and practice.
Planning for College After Affirmative Action
Wednesday, 10/18 at 3 p.m.
Hosted by HGSE Education Now Series
This year’s high school seniors are facing a much-changed college admissions landscape following the Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action based on race. Our panel will discuss how seniors and other aspiring college students, including those in underserved communities, can best prepare for college and present themselves in the application process — and we'll also offer guidance for the counselors, educators, and parents who support them.
Speakers:
• Anthony Jack, Inaugural Faculty Director of the Newbury Center and Associate Professor, Boston University
• Mandy Savitz-Romer, Nancy Pforzheimer Aronson Senior Lecturer in Human Development and Education, and Faculty Lead Counseling Strand, Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Eric Waldo, President and CEO, District of Columbia College Access Program
Host: Francesca Purcell, Senior Lecturer on Education, Faculty Director, Higher Education Program, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Dr. Lisa Damour on Raising Connected, Capable & Compassionate Adolescents
Wednesday, 10/18 at 7 p.m.
Hosted by Spark Kindness
In person event (at Natick High School) with limited seating. Register early!
For parents/caregivers of adolescents (ages 10-25)
World renowned author/expert Dr. Lisa Damour (NYTimes, CBS This Morning) will discuss her new book - “The Emotional Lives of Teenagers” and offer the concrete, practical information parents/caregivers need to steady their teens through the journey into adulthood.
Being - and raising - a teenager has never been easy and it’s especially challenging now. In this talk, psychologist and best-selling author Lisa Damour, Ph.D., will offer practical strategies to help parents and caregivers understand their teenagers’ emotional lives, how to help teens manage their emotions and how to support them through this critical developmental stage. The program will address:
- What to expect in the normal course of adolescent emotional development and when it’s time to worry.
- Why teens (and adults) need to understand that mental health isn’t about “feeling good” but about having feelings that fit the moment.
- Strategies for supporting teens in managing their feelings.
- The best ways to stay connected to your tween/teen and how to provide the kind of relationship that adolescents need and want.
ASL Interpretation will be provided at this event.